Rebirth and redemption

[Anastasia]

"...I slept last night and I didn't have that problem," Emily says, "It might be just this morning?" She frowns, "That sounds terrible!"

[Iron Dragoon]

Alyssa grunts, "It better be. Do you know how hard I worked to save up for those blankets and pillows? They're fantastic and perfect, and I swear if I don't get to enjoy them as much as I want, I'll write a spell to put myself asleep for longer."

[Anastasia]

Bastian eats up before, "If that's your first thing you say about ascension..." He lets it trail off.

"Really, how is it for you?" Emily asks, "How do you feel otherwise?"

[Iron Dragoon]

"Fantastic, honestly. I feel great. Healthier than I ever was. Stronger. I think more clearly."

[Anastasia]

"Isn't it the best?" Emily gushes, "It's like the first time I cast a spell like bull's strength, so so much better!"

[Iron Dragoon]

"It's intoxicating. Dangerously so, I think. I feel like I can take on anything."

Alyssa turns to Bastian, "I'm appointing you to remind me I'm not invincible."

[Anastasia]

"You're not invincible," Bastian deadpans.

"It's so good," Emily agrees, "You all really have to try this!"

Jarem smiles thinly, "Speaking of that, we have tasks to do, don't we? How about we go upstairs and have a talk about it?"

[Iron Dragoon]

Alyssa nods, "Let's. We need to get things in order."

[Anastasia]

Once upstairs and properly protected by Zaphkiel's gift?

"We should go get a seed," Jarem says without preamble.

[Iron Dragoon]

Alyssa nods a bit, "Yes... but not immediately, I don't think. We're... down Ianvasah. I've gotten more power, but I'm not all-powerful. I can still only be in one place and do so much. We need to fill the holes in our abilities. We're all fighters here, but I think that leaves us holes. I think we need some support people. A copy of Moore would be fantastic, for example.

I'm also going to need time and some resources to replace my equipment. What I've been given as gifts are fabulous, but not complete. The last time I went into something unprepared..."

Alyssa leaves that hanging.

[Anastasia]

"Yes, but time's not on our side," Jarem says firmly, "We don't have time to recruit, because if we delay, we may miss chances we can't get back. Unless you have someone you can bring in on this right this minute, I don't think we have time to wait on that. As for equipment, what do you still need?"

"We'll carry you if we need to," Dolmaya says, "Jarem's right. Chances like this wait little for us to be perfectly prepared."

"I don't know..." Emily  murmurs, "Alyssa has a point. But I worry about Gathgorian and Bel getting seeds, too."

[Iron Dragoon]

Alyssa nods, "I didn't mean recruit from the ground up. The others involved, Seira, Alicia, Moore? They're sure to know people who can help. Pull a couple in, round out our ranks. Equipment will solve itself, eventually, but it's a hole to watch for. We still need to pick out which seed we'll go after, also. There's lag time there we can take advantage of.

For now, let's get that call out to the others to see if they can suggest anyone who can help support us. Bastian, how's your work with Jessica been going? We've got a few options, but I'd rather go for something we have first hand knowledge of."

[Anastasia]

"We have some leads in the Beastlands," Bastian says, "We keep getting lucky, we're about to the point where our group should go investigate. Jesisca's offered to go with us since Sylica's hunting other seeds right now, though she's going to talk to them first to make sure there's no problems." He sits back, "I figure you can handle that."

[Iron Dragoon]

Alyssa nods, "That sounds like a solid plan. Excellent work. I'll make a stop over to Jessica in person, and then drop in on the others to see if they have any people they can suggest as recruits. By the time I finish that, we should, hopefully, be fully lined up to go to the Beastlands."

[Anastasia]

"It's a plan," Emily says, "And you mean we'll all go."